I haven't told any show stories yet, have I? Better start.

My God, it's been a bitch casting it. It's called The Seductive Countess, and it has ten fucking characters in it. Of the first cast I was given, I have exactly two actors that accepted the roles, everyone else being busy or out of town.

Some days I think that I have called half the company. And the worst bit is that our dates changed after I had half the casting done and I lost two actors that I had already gotten because of that!

I had one actor cast who ended up complaining so loudly and whinily about rehearsing in Jersey ("But I work 'til 5p, I don' wanna rehearse at 8p! But I live in Westchester, I don' WAAAAAAANNA go to Weehawken! I'll only do this show if I don't have to do that ever again!") that I fired him.

I had one actor drop out after the first readthrough because he didn't feel "connected to the character", which is a big steaming pile of bullshit, but he's also having family stuff going on, so that was the excuse that I accepted.

I had a brainstorm, though, and doublecast one of my actors in a vacant role, because his original role was so teeny weeny, so now I am only short one. If I'm fully cast before we open, I'll fall over dead from the shock.

We rehearsed last night, and two of my actors I don't think I'm going to have to direct at all.

You see, when I ended up with no boys but one, Le gave me actors and actors and actors and told me to cast the roles myself--unfortunately, I didn't know any of the actors but one, so I had to wait until the first readthrough to figure out who was going to be playing what.

It's fascinating how an actor will fit into a role or not. One guy I had read all three roles up for grabs, and he was not good cold reader at all, and read all three roles exactly alike. One, he was awful and dreadful in, one he was okay, and one he was just right. He's the baby bear. And he's one of the people that I'm not going to have to direct at all, because his hesitating, stumbling, Austin Pendleton-y style is just what's right for the role.

The other actor is this Italian Stallion, Tony Soprano, from da neighbahood kinda guy, and he had to come on and yell and be low class. Last night he was trying to speak better, more Standard American, but I made him top that shit. He also mispronounced every French name, (my favourite being Vye-CUNT instead of Vicomte) and I want him to keep it that way!

So, actually, the people that I'm not going to have to direct I'm going to have to keep my eye on to make sure that they don't improve the character right out of the roles!

So, is the fact that I am no longer automatically getting sent redesigns mean that no-one loves me anymore, or that everyone's gotten together and decided to toughlove me into learning to make backgrounds myself?

Aw c'mon guys, I'll learn, I promise, but not just now! Have pity. Spare a redesign? Please sir, I want some more!

I feel so powerful. I got some really funny emails from this one chickabiddy, and told her that she should start an online journal, and not just because if they were entries rather than emails I wouldn't feel guilty about not answering them.

And she has! Go read it, it's just swell.

Today's horoscope:
If you focus only what displeases you about your finances you will have a frustrating day. Instead, identify practical steps for improvement.

One year ago today:
"O, hey, the funniest thing just happened..." "Yeah, I know." (silence but for the desultory clinking of forks against plates).

* Yesterday / Index / This Month / Tomorrow *

E-Mail

Y2K Readiness by:
Krystyn!

This page was written by hand. My hand. Only pussies use HTML editors.
Last Updated Thurs 27 January 10:21:09 2000